Written question asked by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Monday, 17 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Health Services: Technology

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to develop and support the UK telehealth sector.

Answer: The Whole System Demonstrator programme aims to evaluate telehealth and telecare and has established a randomised control trial in three sites with aiming to have 6,000 participants. This is believed to be the largest randomised control trail of telecare and telehealth anywhere in the world which will be on a scale significantly greater than anything undertaken in England.The Department has worked closely with the Technology Strategy Board to create the Assisted Living Innovation Platform (ALIP). ALIP promotes, supports and invests in technology research, development and commercialisation. Several UK telehealth and telecare companies are already engaged in the first wave of projects supported by the platform.Similarly the Department worked with the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency to develop the first ever National Framework Agreement for the procurement of telecare and telehealth.

Secondary information